A federal judge in Alabama has granted an injunction in a same-sex marriage case in Mobile County. U.S. District Judge Callie Granade held a brief hearing today. Granade held the hearing amid confusion in Alabama, as many probate judges there refused to issue the licenses after state Chief Justice Roy Moore said they didn't have to. At least 22 of Alabama's 67 counties are issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.
Alabama’s one hundred million dollar a year peanut crop is taking center stage today. The 10th annual Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show in Dothan opens this morning.
Peanut growers will hear from eighty exhibitors and get an update on the federal farm bill. Roughly half of the U.S. peanut crop grows within a one hundred mile radius of Dothan. Teresa Mays is with the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. She says the event helps peanut growers get ready for the new planting season.
“We hope that they will walk away with more education in their pocket. We trust that each one their will have a better sense of what they need to do for this coming year.”
Mays added that though harvests vary from year to year, the trade show could help farmers get the tools to have a more successful harvest.
The Tennessee Valley Authority has taken steps toward its first large-scale purchase of solar electricity.
The TVA Board on Thursday voted to authorize CEO Bill Johnson to enter into a 20-year contract with NextEra Energy for an 80 megawatt solar facility in northern Alabama.
The facility will be built near TVA's Colbert Fossil Plant, which TVA is retiring in 2016. Johnson said the location will allow the solar facility to take advantage of the existing transmission system.
The nation's largest public utility currently has 128 megawatts of operating solar installations, but those are mostly small installations.
Chief Operating Office Chip Pardee said this will be the utility's first solar installation that produces more than 20 megawatts. The utility will pay about $61 per megawatt-hour over the life of the agreement.
The agency that publicizes the Muscle Shoals area is looking for a new leader. The Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Board is meeting today to fill a void after the resignation of their past director. Debbie Wilson left after twenty years due to personal conflicts with other board members. Kelly Gaputis* is a chairperson of the Florence-Lauderdale tourism board. She says that a new director will provide new ideas and perspectives for the board.
“Somebody coming in will have new ideas and maybe a different approach and be able to build relationships with all the stakeholders in our community. We are looking forward to a positive experience.”
The Florence Lauderdale tourism board is looking for someone with tourism experience and who can work with different entities within the community.